Broken fan motor diagnosis for repair 

Thanks! I'm now a fan.

Ah, so that's what happened to my old fan. My local electricians are sly and told me that he can't fix it in order to try to get me to sell the motor to him with lowballed price, which i did since i had no electrician knowledge. At least now I can troubleshoot my fans before scrapping it, thanks! The knowledge is much appreciated!

Thanks for this. Had a fan go out just recently, that I'd considered repairing myself if I could. Watching this allowed me to determine that there was a problem with exactly the piece you showed. I almost considered doing exactly what you mentioned people doing, but realized for myself before you even said it the fire risk - especially high for me considering that I used my fan fairly heavily. You saved me time, energy, and possibly my life.

Fantastic video thank you so much!

Ready to throw my Honeywell fan away but after watching your video I gave it another try. I fixed the fan by bypassing the thermal fuse like you suggested in this video and it fixed it. Saved me 50 bucks. Thanks

In 2003, I bought a cheap white plastic Chinese box fan, 10 inch size. A short time later, it was having a difficult time spinning up and the spin down time was too quick. The motor was simple enough. Even though it said "sealed bearings no lubrication needed", this type of motor has this symptom. So I took it all apart and lubricated the bearing areas and it has worked far better than it ever has. For a plastic bladed fan, the spin down is really impressive. Most people would have chucked the fan in about a year but if I can make something last longer and not feed the company money who makes these fans, the more the better. Fourteen years and it still runs fine.

The unfortunate thing is that people have the attitude of "Why fix it when a new one is so cheap?". I have never bought a new fan in my life. I have fans that date back to 1919, and every single one of them is in perfect working order, because I do regular maintenance. Clean the fan, blow out the motor, and oil the bearings. It takes minutes to do, and costs literally pennies.

A blown thermal fuse was exactly what was wrong with the fan I was working on. I’m glad I found this video because I never would have figured it out (I never knew such a component existed or that fans have them). Thanks!

Thank you for this. I added some lube to mine and it worked great!

And you Sir, deserve my greatest thanks! We have a very nice copper-colored metal fan ('retro style'), and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong. Turned out that the thermal protector switch blew up. Fixed now, thanks to your step-by-step checking guide!!

Thanks to this video I can fix my fan. Just the tiny fuse was inside the coils and was very hard to reach. But I did it and now it works. Thank you very much. God bless you!

You were right RU-vid fan man. My problem was the common issue where lubrication was needed because the motor wasn't turning at all but now it's working better than ever! Thank you very much for this video & info! Honestly saved me some money for such a simple fix.

Great repair job. It was useful video for me. Thanks a lot.

Great video! I have a tower fan that my girlfriend cannot sleep without, and I keep needing to repair it/oil it. I did not know about the thermal protector until I watched your video. This will help me narrow down what is actually going on the next time I troubleshoot and repair the fan. Thank you!

Thanks a lot, fixed my fan, didn't know it had overheated. You're a Lifesaver mate💪🏾🙌🏿

Liked, commented and subscribed - this vid is still doing the business eight years later! Very useful and quick fix, thanks.

Thank you for this video! You just allowed me to fix my fan myself👌👌 Very useful and well explained! Feeling pretty handy!🙌

I just fixed my fan thanks to this video. I figured there was a thermal fuse somewhere just didn't know where it was hiding.

This completely isolated my problem. I "fixed" the fan and it got it working but scrapped it anyway. It was a good learning experience. Thank you.

I took my small tiny squirrel cage fan, added felt bearings, lubed up the fan and then it started and stopped... Just made it to the end of your video. Damn.

Stopped watching the video at the 1 minute mark because I'm not an electrician. Took your advice and had a professional fix my fan. My $10 fan is running almost as good as new and it only cost me $745.

thank u so much , its really helpful! really works. GOD bless you.

I like the way you get to the point yet take the time to explain it thoroughly. Thank you. Very nice video. I am an appliance technician and I enjoy seeing good videos put out. Good job!

Dear bro i officially thank you so so much i recently bought new fan after 7 months just stopped working i tried your method mine also clean motor but when i twisted this small White IC theremal protector which in my fan writing ( 130C ) ic number RH130-2 2A 25V U2 And boom its working again Oooo My God 🙏 So i know where is the problem now and i will buy its and solder the new one bro thanks really so much for teaching me new experience will save a lot of money in the future all my appreciation and love thank you 👍♥️🙂

Well done. Great explanation for people who are not familiar with these thermal fuses.

Thank God for RU-vid Thanks especialy electricretrotech Guy for making this video. Thermal protector was my fans’ problem

I did a repair on my cheapo bionaire tower fan. I did short the resistors and just leave it and we don’t use the fan without supervision. I think the fuse blew because it was not properly lubricated and caused the motor to over amp and fail. I don’t really care if it catches fire because it was free and I have it where it won’t cause issues if it does :)

Thanks for making the video, my fan is working like new now, to everyone that is new and is reading the comment to thus video, like the video because it really does help

Thanks a lot , almost throw out the fan , will save ton in future , Every year have to buy another fan , I’m betting the heating relay is the issue majority of the time .

Fantastic vid. Please make more. Thanks

I got an USA made fan for forty years Bluestar by Electrostar LTD. Every year I clean the dust inside coils and propeller surface and i add extra thin oil in bearings, never seen construction like this before.

These fans used to have two bushings that dry up after one or two years. People usually drop them out in the garbage, but a few drops of gear oil or lithium grease extends their life about ten years.

Thank you so much. I had this very good fan that stopped working a long time ago. Didn't knew about this part. And found one (looks different though, like a small tube fuse with temp, amp and voltage rating that was shorted) that caused the problem. Thank you so much. That was very helpful!

I learned a lot, thank you. My problem is putting the bearings back together and not sure how since one of those and a spring popped out while disassembling. I only found one bearing. If there's two, I'm screwed. And not in the good way without the fan lol

Thanks chief, your step by step diagnosis helped me figure out it most likely just needed lubrication, threw some oil on the bearings, full expecting it to have zero effect but now its running better than before it needed repair.

Thank you for that advice bro I blew up the dust and then I spun the fan and it started to work

Thank you for the tip- mine needed WD40 for the rear bearing which I did not lubricate prior to watching this- Thank you very much. I save a ton of money

thank you for pointing out exactly where the oiling needed to be done, I do open mine to clean the blades, blow dust out and take a peek in to pick out any large pieces of lint but was unsure exactly where to oil the bearings and definitely didn't want to touch the electrical accidentally. I don't have any money for new fans or to take courses so I just make sure its clean and not running hot.

You are the best , love ur repair videos and the way you change the voice . thats cool .thanks

Excellent advice for those who want to repair their fans. It begins with taking precautions, as working with electrical equipment may be very dangerous for those who are careless.

Nicely done with lots of pertinent information on fan motors.

This is an awesome video. Thank you so much I’m going to diagnose it. It does explain why so many fans end up in the garbage though.

when you were saying "get an electrician to inspect it, dont open it yourself, blah blah blah" i was in the middle of prying something out of the motor with a tiny screwdriver. with it plugged into the wall...

Thanks! Worked for me. 20' Kenmore box fan.

This video helped me out a lot, Thanks!

Thank you, it worked. Fan is up and running well now

Thanks for sharing that info, because I oil mine and it is free but still not spinning on it own,

I'd love to see other repairs that you usually make. Thanks fot this vid.

Thank you! Thank you! I was ready to throw my fan in the trash. I put a little oil on the shaft and it started turning!

Thank you for the video. I have managed to fix my fan.

I fixed our fan myself because of u thank u

Good information thanks

I fixed my small room vornado tower this way, thanks for the video.

Thanks so much It really worked I just used a little bit oil and boom start working again ur a genius

My fan stopped while sleeping so the next day I opened it to look inside. The switch seemed fine and the blades turned easily so after googling some I read that the capacitor could be the culprit though it wasn’t swollen. I ordered a pair on Amazon for $8. and got it today swapped it out but to no avail. I wished I would’ve seen this video 1st so now I’ll try this test. I’ll bet it’s the problem. Thanks from hot New Orleans 🎭

Sometimes a slow, reluctant, low torque motor may need a bushing and even a replacement shaft. I watched an expert check out such a reluctant fan and learned a lot in the process! The bushing and shaft were worn and it wouldn't run right even when oiled.

Thank you! I never realized it could be the oil. All i had to do is clean it abit and turn it by hand both ways a few time! I'll definitely have a friend that knows what they are doing oil it for me! Thanks!

This video is great!!! Educational and flippin hilarious!!!

Thanks for this video. I have a 3 speed rangehood that stopped working. I looked around the net for info and worked out it should be the start capacitor. The motor would just hum, but i could get it going by spinning it manually. Changed the start capacitor and still the same problem. Anyway to cut it short, I opened up the motor, not too easy to do. Found the thermal protector to the start capacitor was no good, changed it and all good, thanks

Thank you because of you my fan was work

used to use thermal relay that turns on when it cools down

good for entertainment, actually have been looking for something to entertain myself.

How old is this video the information is still useful until now.. thanks for showing us I had the same exactly problem like fan in video I just bridge test the thermal protector and my fan moving again all left I need to replace new thermal protector

“go to school learn abt it first or take it to a professional” when i’m a 13 year old that’s just hot and my fan stopped working so i’m hot and can’t go to sleep ahahah

This video just fixed my hurricane pro 20 inch fan which isn't cheap. First one just needed cleaned and lubed but the second one I couldn't figure out if it was a bad winding or coil or what was going on. Took it apart and it all looked good. I was kind of stumped. Low and behold thermal protector was the culprit. The fan also need lubed and I'm assuming it was overheated from the resistance. Thanks for the great video.

Nice video! it helped me to correct my fan.

You saved my fan Thanks

step by step process for repair E. fan 1. plug in and if you hear a hum sound it means your bushing will need to replace 2. if you didn't hear a hum sound it means your thermal fuse inside the fan is cut off, need to replace it in same number or temperature 3. if you spin it by your hand and its spin freely, and you plug in and put to # 3 and the spin slowly it means your starter capacitor are shortage, need to replace it

excellent video, greetings from Mexico

Great, thanks for fine explanation sir! Skilling up bit by bit!

Thanks that was really good tutorial :)

Thank you. This was very informative.

Thanks very detail explanation

Thank you for this video sir

Awesome man thanks for the help ✌

Thank you... and I'm definitely not going to do this myself 😉😉

I'm a fan collector

Thank you so much to shared your idea now I peaks may electric fan no need to raper in shop.

If you want to oil your fan, pick up a bottle of "Liquid Bearings". The online store that begins with A and ends with zon carries it. Don't use petroleum-based oils or silicone-type sprays on your fans or anything else! Actual oils and lubricant sprays leave sticky deposits when they evaporate over time. Real oil is a mixture of chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and under certain conditions the short-chain molecules evaporate, and the unstable molecules oxidize and break down. This leaves a sticky residue which can actually "gum up" the device it was intending to lubricate. Conventional oils also contain sulfur, waxes, and unstable hydrocarbons which are left behind as residue deposits. Liquid Bearings does none of this. Cheers

Great video, very clear and simple to follow. i was having problem with my HV 180 honeywell fan and it was exactly what you mentioned ...thermal protector....now trying to figure out where to buy one and what type as the one in the fan is old and the writing on the thermal protector is not legible anymore ....Any ideas would be much appreciated ..thanks again for the great video

Thank you for this video! It helps a lot!

There is no time efficiency justification for this work but wonderful way to introduce younger set on how repairs are possible.

Great Video

it worked! Thank you so much!

thank you

This was just for my project so im watching it lol

Damn this video makes me want to buy a new fan versus me want to fix it myself. Lol

My Story: Fan stopped running in the middle of the night ( I heard it). The blades barely budged when I turned the switch, and when I removed the over, the blades wouldn't turn or spin easily. Sooooo.... it took a looong skinny screwdriver to reach the screws for the cover. ( One of the Blizzard models). With that off, I vacuumed the motor and it looked good, so I removed it from the case and opened it up. Vacuumed out the rest of the dust and pulled out the shaft and found it was dry at the base. I used some dielectric grease on the bottom 1 inch of the shaft, reassembled it and now it spun fairly easily!! Plugged it in and carefully flipped the switch and the shaft spun up!!!! I sprayed the blades with simple green de-greaser and hosed them off and the grime washed off easily. Dried the blades and reassembled everything and everything worked well. I had to open up the cover on the motor- 4 screws, remove the switch- 2 screws and the over has 6 screws. The hardest part was finding the right screwdrivers. AND the motor screws had lock washers and took some effort to break loose. DO NOT put your hand behind the motor when you're applying force to break them loose- if the screwdriver slips off, it will go straight through your hand and you'll have to go to the ER. It probably took longer to reassemble everything- and having some pis BEFORE you take it apart may help in the reassembly if you forgot where something goes. And DOUBLE or TRIPLE check that it's unplugged when you're working on it! It's VERY easy to get caught up in the process and forget you have live wires in your hands. And thanks for the helpful video bro!

Its work for me! Tqvm

thank you. I find my table fan problem and I sort out. same oil peoblem

Yeah after watching this video I was able to fix my fan by adding oil as indicated. FANtasticool! Thanks saved from the dumps.

4:29 Terminator T800 activated !

Excellent, I unsiezed a couple of fans and still no joy this was the issue

Video should be called poke and jab motor windings with sharp metal object.

Wow very nice.

Thanks bro, u save me 👍

great safety notes .

Thank you for this video!

I had a squiking fan that took about 10min to start spinning....when i opened the motor i i justbblew out dust, put back and then it did not even hum, like no power to engine, so opened again, released the 4 screws holding engine, pulled a part about 1mm, moving the copper and then put power on and it started to hum like it tried to spin....tighten the screws again and it stopped.....removed screws again, let.itnhave a 1mm gap and no engine in working some what....i have no idea how to fix, as soon as i tighten screws the engine is dead

intresting stuff, interesting video